Brushing machine



Sept. 27, 1966 H. MlLl-:lKowsKY ETAL 3,274,630

BRUSHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1965 INVENTORS Hovnv Mmauwwsnv GHR. HORVHTH y ROSNER BY sAul.

Sept. 27, 1966 H. MILElKowsKY r-:TAL 3,274,630

BmJsHING MACHINE FledvMaroh 11, 1965 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS HOVAV MILEIKOWSKY CARL HORVHTH BY snm. RosNER Sept- 27, 1966 H. MILElKowsKY ETAL 3,274,630

BRUSHING MACHINE Filed March 1l, 1965 '5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Hovnv MrLemowsKY CARL Hom/ATH BY sau. RosNER United States Patent O 3,274,630 nnUsHrNG macinata Hor/av Mileikowsky, Norwalk, Carl Horvath, Fairfield,

This invention pertains generally to mechanical scouring devices and more particularly to a machine for Sequentially scouring a given surface on each of a plurality of articles.

In many manufacturing operations, and particularly those in which large numbers of similar articles are cut off extended lengths of stock material, it is necessary to remove the undesirable burrs which are formed on the edge of each article by the cutting process. A manually applied wire brush is one well known method of accomplishing such deburring on a relatively small number of easy-to-handle pieces. In large scale operations, however, where many small or awkwardly shaped parts must be handled, it is desirable to provide a machine capable of automatically brushing or otherwise scouring a continuous sequence of individual pieces. Often, it is necessary to scour both ends of sequentially cut off pieces. In such cases it would be highly advantageous to treat the two opposite ends simultaneously.

Previously devised scouring machines have generally been characterized by an undesirable limitation to brushing or scouring in only one direction relative to the surface being treated. It has been found that most effective scouring is achieved, however, as in the case of hand brushing, by continuously varying the direction of relative motion between the subject surface and the scouring means. Previously devised machines have generally not been adapted to successfully brush in all directions and/ or to perform the operation simultaneously on two oppositely facing surfaces of the same part.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple and effective machine for sequentially scouring a given surface on each of a plurality of articles while continuously varying the direction of relative Inotion between the subject surface and the scouring means.

A further object is the provision of an automatic scouring machine capable of simultaneously scouring two substantially opposed surfaces on a given part.

Still another object is the provision of a device of the type described, which is relatively simple in construction, low in cost, adaptable to accept various parts of different sizes and shapes, and may be conveniently cleaned, repaired, loaded, and unloaded.

A feature of this invention resides in the use of article supporting brackets, capable of rotating an article about a given axis, in conjunction with a scouring means having a scouring surface adapted to move at an angle to the given axis 'of the supporting brackets.

A further feature of this invention comprises a rotatable article supporting bracket capable of gripping an article substantially peripherally at a point intermediate two opposed ends thereof while transporting the article past an operating scouring member.

A still further feature of this invention includes means for moving a plurality of articles along a substantially linear path while separately rotating each article about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the path; and simultaneously scouring at least one surface of each article as it is being moved.

These and other and further objects, features and advantages of this invention will be more clearly explained and specifically pointed out in the following specification 3,274,639 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a scouring machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the machine of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 with portions removed for greater clarity.

The scouring machine illustrated in these drawings may be seen to comprise generally a pair of opposed cylindrical scouring brushes 10 and 12, and a plurality of article supporting brackets 14 mounted on an endless loop of flexible chain carrier 16 which is positioned to carry the brackets along a substantially linear path past brushes 10 and 12. Each bracket 14 may be seen to include a rotatably mounted articlereceiving chuck member 18 which permits rotation of a carried article, such as the C-clamp electrical connector 2t), about its own axis. With brushes 10, 12 and chuck 18 rotating as shown by the directional arrows in the drawings, and with brackets 14 moving to the right in FIGURE 3, it is apparent that the opposed end surfaces 20a, 20b of connector 20 will be scoured in continuously varying relative directions, all substantially parallel to each surface, during passage of the connector between the brushes.

The essential elements of the illustrated embodiment of this invention are thus seen to include a scouring mechanism such as rotating brushes 10, 12, an article support, positioning, and rotating mechanism such as brackets 14, and transport means such as chain 16 for moving the support mechanism past the scouring mechanism in a continuous sequence. These essential elements are discussed in greater detail in the following:

Scourz'ng mechanism Cylindrical scouring brushes 10, 12 are shown to be mounted for rotation about a pair of substantially parallel axes. The axes are spaced sufficiently far apart to permit passage of a given article, such as connector 20, between the brush surfaces but in engagement with them. The brushes may be formed in conventional fashion of any suitable metallic or other bristle material. The central shaft 22 of each Abrush is carried between a pair of shaft bearings 24 which are in tum mounted on the ends of adjustable mounting arms 26.

Each arm 26 is pivotally mounted to a support block 28 by means of a pivot pin 30 so that the arms may be tilted to vary the vertical position of the brushes. A selected position is maintained by means of the connecting member 32 which passes through slot 34 in anchor block 36 and xedly connects the free ends of the two arms which support a given brush. Connecting member 32 is provided with a xed collar 38 on one side of block 36 and a threaded portion (not visible) threadedly engaged to clamping nut 40 on the other side of the block. Arms 26 may thus be locked in a selected position by advancing nut 40 toward collar 38 to firmly grip block 36 between them.

Supporting blocks 28 and anchor blocks 36 may both be seen to be mounted on mounting plate 42; the latter in turn is supported on machine base 44. The purpose of fastening blocks 28 and 36 to a plate separate from base 44 is to permit movement of each complete scouring brush-support assembly relative to the opposed brush assembly. Relative motion between the brush assembly and the center line of chain carrier 16 is also achieved in this manner. This mounting scheme thus allows for adjustment of the lbrush assemblies t0 accommodate a wide range of article sizes.

Motive power for turning -brushes 10, 12 may be provided by any well known source, such as an electric vas 70 and 70. 'entirely or replaced by a fixed surface.

motor (not shown) coupled by means of gearsor belts -and pulleys (neither shown) to the extending ends of brush shafts 22.

Support mechanism Article supporting brackets 14 have thus far been noted to include a rotatably mounted article-receiving 'chuck 1S. The circular chucks 18 may each be seen in .FIGURE 3 to be peripherally engaged by four rollers 46,

which are supported in spaced relationship by a` pair of upright arms 48, so that the chuck may rotate about its central axis free of any central shaft. To Icapture the chuck to the rollers, the chuck may be provided with an external peripheral groove 50 (seen in FIG. 2) capable of receiving the outer edge of each roller. Each supporting bracket 14 further includes a bracket base element 52 on which the arms 48 are mounted. Each bracket base 52 is in turn provided with a downwardly extending yoke 54 for engaging drive chain 16. The yoke is adapted to be pivotally coupled to the drive chain to permit brackets 14 to follow the chain through successive rotations about drive wheels 78.

To assure proper alignment and support of brackets 14 as they are drawn past brushes 10, 12, the bracket base elements 52 are each provided with pairs of horizontally and vertically aligned rollers 56, 58 which engage two longitudinally aligned track members 60 mounted on Abase plate 44 of the machine. The track members are preferably L-shaped in cross-section, as shown in FIG. 2, to provide a horizontal bearing surface for rollers 56 and a vertical bearing surface for rollers 58. Brackets 14 are thus transported through the passage defined by the opposed brushes 10, 12 along a fully defined path. As an additional safeguard, tracks 60 may be provided with cover plates 61 extending over rollers 56 to prevent their rising up off track 60. Shields 63 may also be `provided to protect the roller tracks from falling debris generated by scouring operations.

Chuck elements 18 have previously been described as being for the purpose lof gripping, carrying, and rotating individual articles, such as connector 20 between the scouring brushes 10, 12. These functions are accomplished by providing each chuck part 18 with a throughhole 62 which is adapted to receive and substantially confine the periphery of each article 20. The throughhole configuration allows the article to extend from both sides of the chuck so that it may be simultaneously engaged at opposite ends (20a, 2Gb) by the opposed scouring brushes. Confining the outer periphery of the article assures that it will rotate together with the chuck during scouring. -Rotation of the articles 20 as they pass between the opposed brushes is a significant feature of this invention which assures that the article surfaces 20a, 2Gb

will be thoroughly scoured by brushing across them in continuously varying relative directions.

The chucks 18 are effectively rotated as they pass scouring brushes 10, 12 by means of the treadmill belt arrangement which includes endless belt 64. The belt in this embodiment is supported and driven by pulleys 66,

68 which are mounted to the machine frame for rotation in the plane of chuck elements 18. Spring loaded rollers 65, mounted on the machine frame and positioned to urge belt 64 into engagement with chucks 18, assure that vthe belt properly engages the `chucks for transmission of driving power.

The outer edge of the belt is preferably shaped (as seen in FIG. 2) to engage the peripheral groove 50 on each chuck to further improve the driving relationship. Motive power may be supplied to the belt 64 through at least one of the pulleys 66 by means of another belt (not shown) coupled from a motor (not shown) to input pulley 70 on pulley shaft 72.

If desired, the rate of rotation of chucks 18 may be varied by varying the speed of belt 64 through provision, for example, of various diameter input pulleys such Alternatively, belt 64 may be stopped The rolling motion of the chucks along the fixed surface will then produce rotation at a speed dependent on the linear speed of the brackets 14.

Articles such as connector 20 may be loaded into openings 62 in chucks 18 at any convenie'nt point outside of the path between brushes 10, 12. In actual use the articles should preferably be removed as soon as possible after passing between the brushes, so as to allow maximum time for reloadingfresh articles without requiring that the machine be stopped. Loading and unloading may be accomplished manually Vor automatically, with or without reliance on gravity feed principles, in any convenient manner.

To assure proper positioning of the articles within openings 62, the machine may be provided with adiustable guide tracks 74 on each side of brushes 10, 12. The inclined ramps at the end of the tracks act to urge articles transversely back or forth within openings 62 in order to align them in a proper intermediate position between the scouring brushes. On the emerging side of the path between the brushes, the guides 74 aid to prevent inadvertent release of an article at a point where damage to the moving mechanisms below might result. The guides are supported by movable slide supports 76 which permit transverse adjustment of their position to accommodate a range of article sizes.

Transport mechanism The transport and drive mechanism which carries article-supporting -brackets 14 past brushes 10, 12 has previously been indicated to include endless chain 16. The chain is simply supported between two conventional sprocket wheels 78 (one of which is shown in edge view in FIGURE 2j' which are mounted in spaced-apart relation on sprocket shafts `80. As may be readily seen in FIGURE 2, shafts 8@ are supported by a pair of bearings 82 which are mounted to machine base 44. The use of a chain driv is considered preferable for this application to assure proper movement of brackets 14 without slippage. Other arrangements may obviously be made, however, without departing from the scope of this invention. Motive power may be supplied to either or both of the wheels 78 through a shaft 8f) by a rotary motor (not shown) acting through any convenient means such as spurgear 84 shown mounted to shaft 80.

A pair of guide wheels 86 may also -be seen to be mounted in axially spaced-apart relation on each of shafts 80. These wheels engage guide rollers 56, 58 as bracket base elements 52 are turned around chain sprockets 78 in order to position and support the base elements 52 prior to engagement with tracks 60.

This invention may now be seen to teach the construction of a rugged `and relatively simple machine for rapidly and efficiently scouring, in continuous sequence, one or more surfaces of a plurality of articles. It has been shown that some of the illustrated portions of the described embodiment are basic to the concepts of this invention while others may be deleted, modified or further refined witho-ut departing from the inventive teachings herein set forth. Accordingly, .although the invention has thus been described it is desired to be understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or usages shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention; therefore, the right is broadly claimed to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appendent claims, and by means of which objects of this invention are attained and new 4results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to obtain these objects and accomplish these results.

We claim:

1. A machine for scouring the opposed surfaces of a plurality of separate articles, comprising: a pair of opposed scouring members defining a passage therebetween; means for Irotatably supporting said articles with the opposed surfaces thereof in exposed position; means for transporting said `supporting means through the passage between said scouring members with the opposed surfaces of said articles in operative engagement with said opposed scouring members; and means .including said rotatably supporting means for rotating said articles about an axis extending between said opposed surfaces during transport between said opposed scouring members.

2. A machine for thoroughly brushing a Agiven surface on each of .a plurality of .individual articles, comprising: a substantially cylindrical brush .member rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof; means for rotating said brush about said axis; means for rotatably supporting individual articles with a given surface thereof in engagement with the surface of said brush; means for transporting said rotatably supporting means along a :given path past said brush to move the given surfaces of articles supported by said supporting means `along the brush surface; and means for rotating the articles in said supporting means about an axis substantially transverse to said brush axis during passage of the articles along the brush surface; said means for rotatably supporting the articles further comprising a plurality of substantially circular chuck elements each having an article receiving aperture therein, and 4a plurality of base elements each havin-g upstanding arm elements thereon adapted to rotatably support said chuck elements about the periphery thereof.

3. A machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein said chuck elements .and the article receiving apertures therein are adapted to permit longitudinal movement of an article within said `aperture and to resist rotation of said article relative to said chuck element.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 3 further including a Iguide plate member Ihaving an inclined ramp portion for urging articles longitudinally to predetermined positions within said article receiving apertures.

5. A machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for rotating the articles carried by said supporting means includes a rotating drive means adapted to engage the periphery of said chuck elements to impart rotary motion thereto.

6. A machine further in accordance with claim 5, wherein said rotating drive means comprises an endless belt having an outer surface adapted to frictionally engage the periphery of said chuck elements.

7. A machine for thoroughly brushing a given surface on each of a plurality of individual articles, comprising: a substantially cylindrical brush member rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof; means for rotating said brush about said axis; means for rotatably supporting individual articles with a given sur-face thereof in engagement with the surface of said brush; means for transporting said rotatably supporting means along a given path past said brush to move the Igiven surfaces of articles supported by said supporting means along the brush surface; and means for rotating the articles in said supporting means about an axis substantially transverse to said brush axis during passage of the articles along the brush surface; said means for transporting said article supporting means further comprising 'a rotating flexible endless loop assembly having said article supporting means coupled thereto 4for movement in a given plane past said brush member.

8. A machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein the position of said cylindrical brush member is transversely adjustable relative to the given path of said transporting means to accommodate articles of varying size.

9. A machine for thoroughly brushing a pair of opposed end surfaces on each of a plurality of individual articles, comprising: a pair of substantially cylindrical brush members rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes and disposed in substantially opposed spacedapart relation defining a passage therebetween; means for rotating said brush members about their respective axes; means for rotatably supporting individual `articles with the opposed end surfaces thereof in exposed position; means for transporting said supporting means through the passage between `said brush members with the opposed end surfaces of the articles carried by said supporting means in engagement with the outer surfaces of said opposed brush members; and means for rotating each individual article about an `axis substantially transverse to the direction of motion of said .supporting means during transport through the passage between said brush members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 892,129 6/1908 Broderick 15-2l.3 X

920,859 5/1909 Gardner 51-112 1,045,943 12/1912 Burrows 15-21.3 1,603,249 10/1926 Stevens 15-2l.3 1,853,078 4/1932 Pheleps et al. l5-21.3 2,950,493 8/1960 Rosolia et al l6-21.3 2,973,532 3/1961 Bosl etal 15-21.3 3,045,268 7/1962 Coan 15-88 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR SCOURING THE OPPOSED SURFACES OF A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE ARTICLES, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF OPPOSED SCOURING MEMBERS DEFINING A PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN; MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID ARTICLES WITH THE OPPOSED SURFACES THEREOF IN EXPOSED POSITION; MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS THROUGH THE PASSAGE BETWEEN SAID SCOURING MEMBERS WITH THE OPPOSED SURFACES OF SAID ARTICLES IN OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OPPOSED SCOURING MEMBERS; AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID ROTATABLY SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID ARTICLES ABOUT AND AXIS EXTENDING SAID OPPOSED SURFACES DURING TRANSPORT BETWEEN SAID OPPOSED SCOURING MEMBERS. 